Jack's football coach, philosophy professor, and radical-feminist-girlfriend, Alice, each ask for a commitment he is hesitant to make. A farm boy from Indiana and precocious scholar-athlete, Jack tries to resolve the universal conflict between independence/personal freedom and commitment/community. (What is Love?) The cast of characters includes a stoner buddy, air-head BFF, gay football player, mill-worker-Renaissance-scholar, suicidal Moose, Mothers of Invention, Communists, racists, and Muhammad Ali. History and historical photos are sprinkled throughout the book.